A sanitary appliance

In the 1880s, spurred by public health reformers and a growing acceptance of “germ theory,” municipalities across the nation installed water and sewage systems. Flush toilets increasingly became more common. Wash-out water closets of the era had under-floor traps and dry bowls that often leaked odorous sewer gases. By the 1890s, wash-down siphon models became the norm: five to seven gallons of water rushing into the bowl pulled out waste; built-in traps kept a pool of gas-blocking water in the bowl.

An ideal bathroom, 1890s-1910s

Courtesy of Bo Sullivan

“In order to be effective, the flushing-water should come down in a sudden dash.”

– William Gerhard, House-Drainage and Sanitary Plumbing, 1898

Toilet bowl, about 1900

Embellished bowls became popular when free-standing pedestal toilets replaced earlier flush-styles that were enclosed in wood cabinets.

U.S. patent for an improved tearing toilet paper, 1892

With indoor flush toilets came toilet paper—newsprint, pages from mail-order catalogs, and corncobs were fine for outhouse pits, but were not flushable. Rolled, perforated paper was first patented in the late 1870s; by the 1890s it had assumed its familiar on-a-tube form.

From American Architect and Building News, 1894

This advertisement reads: "Duplex: The best water closet in the WORLD. Quiet in Operation, Positive in Action, Elegant in Appearance and Sanitarily Perfect."